Poor Housing Raises Fall Risk for Older People: What a New Study Means for Home Safety

A new study has put a number on something many families sense instinctively: the condition of a home has a direct bearing on whether an older person falls in it. Researchers at the London School of Economics have found that homes with electrical or plumbing faults, too little space, or poor lighting are linked to a higher risk of falls among people aged 65 and over, at an estimated cost of £1.2 billion a year. For UK homeowners thinking about how to stay safe and independent, it is a timely reminder that home safety is about the building as much as the person.

What the new research found

The study, published on 5 August 2026 in the journal PLOS One, drew on the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing, following roughly 5,500 adults aged 65 and over across data gathered between 2002 and 2023. Rather than looking only at a person’s health, the researchers examined the condition of people’s homes alongside whether they had experienced a fall.

The findings were clear. Electrical or plumbing problems were associated with a 10.8 per cent increase in the probability of a fall, and were also linked to falls serious enough to need medical care. A lack of space raised the probability of a fall by 3.3 per cent. Poor lighting was linked to a 9.3 per cent increase in falls that resulted in healthcare use. Taken together, the researchers estimated that falls attributable to poor housing cost around £1.2 billion each year, made up of £440 million in healthcare costs and £778 million in formal care.

To put that in context, around one in three adults aged 65 and over experience at least one fall a year in England. Falls are a leading reason older people lose confidence, mobility and, in the most serious cases, their independence.

Why the home itself matters as much as the person

Much falls-prevention advice focuses on the individual: strength and balance exercises, medication reviews, sight tests and sensible footwear. All of that remains important. What this research adds is evidence that the home environment is a risk factor in its own right, and, crucially, one that can be changed.

That distinction matters. A person’s balance and eyesight will naturally change with age, but a poorly lit landing, a cramped hallway or a fault that has been left unaddressed can be put right. The authors argue that housing improvement should be treated as part of an integrated falls-prevention strategy rather than an afterthought, noting that the associated costs “could be avoided”. In other words, some of that £1.2 billion, and a good deal of avoidable pain and lost independence, comes down to the fabric of the homes people live in.

Stairs, lighting and the highest-risk spots

The study looked at housing conditions broadly, but its findings echo what occupational therapists have long observed about where falls tend to happen. Stairs are one of the highest-risk areas of any home, combining height, movement and, often, poor lighting at the top or bottom of a flight. A dim landing or a loose handrail can turn an everyday journey between floors into a hazard.

This is where practical adaptations come in. Improving lighting on stairs and landings, fitting a second handrail, and clearing clutter are low-cost first steps that many households can arrange quickly. For people who find the stairs increasingly difficult or unsafe, a stairlift removes the need to climb altogether, keeping the whole home usable rather than forcing a retreat to a single floor. You can compare typical UK stairlift costs in our guide to stairlift prices. The point the research underlines is that these changes are not luxuries. They are part of preventing the falls that cost individuals their independence and the wider system billions.

What older people and families can do now

The encouraging part is that much of this is within reach. A sensible starting point is a room-by-room look at the home with fresh eyes. Are the stairs and landings well lit, are handrails secure on both sides, is there enough clear space to move safely, and are there any electrical or plumbing faults that have been quietly tolerated for months? Small fixes, from a brighter bulb on the landing to sorting out a long-ignored repair, can make a measurable difference.

Where an older person is genuinely struggling at home, a care needs assessment from the local council is free and can open the door to further support, including an occupational therapist’s view on adaptations. For larger changes such as a stairlift, the Disabled Facilities Grant can help meet the cost, with a maximum grant of £30,000 in England, £36,000 in Wales and £25,000 in Northern Ireland. It is worth noting that councils can take time to process applications, so it pays to start early. You can check what help might be available through our guide to stairlift grants. Families who would rather arrange a stairlift privately, or run a private quote alongside a council application, can weigh up the options first.

A hopeful message

The message from this research is simple and, ultimately, hopeful. Falls are not an inevitable part of getting older, and the home is one of the biggest levers we have to prevent them. Fixing poor lighting, addressing long-ignored repairs and adapting the stairs are practical steps that keep people safer in the place they most want to be, which is at home. If a stairlift is part of that plan, our guides to stairlift costs and grants are a good place to begin.